Eobnia



June 17,` 1930.

.L A. RAWSON STRUT TYPE BASE CONSTRUCTION original Filed-Jan. 5o, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTQRNEY Patented `lune 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATE LESLIE A. RAWSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 EMSCO DERRICK @a EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA STRUT-TYPE-BASE CONSTRUCTION Application iiled January 30, 1929, Serial No. 336,091. Renewed April 7, 1930.

My invention relates to derrick construction, and it consists of a novel rigidifying base for a derrick. My invention is broadly new in providing a base having certain compression braces, having certain tension braces, and having a combined construction including tension braces and compression braces.

In order to illustrate the utility of my invention, I will point out that the base of an oil well derrick is subjected to very severe shocks and strains by the various apparatus. For instance, the rotary machine is secured to the middle of the derrick floor and the draw works is secured to one edge thereof. These apparatus are used for driving the drill pipe and bit during drilling. The power transmitted through this apparatus, and the strains, are enormous. The derrick base consequently must be very strong.

It is a broad object of my invention to provide a derrick base which is reinforced against the enormous strains imposed upon it during its use at the well.

My invention provides a derrick base having diagonal compression braces extending from the corners thereof toward the middle of the base. These compression braces are designed primarily to withstand and reinforce the base against compression strains, but they are nevertheless constructed to withstand som`e tension forces which tend to pull apart the members of the base.

It is an ob'ect of the invention, therefore, to provide a ase construction having means for reinforcing the base against compression strains which are imposed thereon.

-My invention also provides a derrick base having diagonal tension braces extending from the corners of the base toward the middle thereof. These tension braces are designed to withstand and reinforce the base against tension forces which tend to pull apart the members.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a derrick base having means'for reinforcing the base against tension forces.

My invention also provides a base having combination compression braces andf tension braces which coact to rigidify the base. The compression braces reinforce the base against compression strains and forces, and the ten- ,sion braces reinforce the base against tension strains and forces. The compression braces and tension braces are placed in pairs and the tension braces place the compression braces under compression, with the result that the pairs are firmly held in place.

It is accordingly one of the objects of my invention to provide a base having a means for reinforcing the base against both compression and tension forces in such a manner as to provide rigidity.

The rotary machine, inview of its purpose in the dei-rick, must be very rigidly secured in place in order that it may properly transmit the enormous power which must be delivered to the bit at the bottom of the well. It is ordinary practice to use very heavy bolts for securing the rotary machine in place. This means will retain the rotary machine in place, but it allows considerable vibration.

One of the objects of myinvention is to provide a base having a central frame to which the rotary machine may be rigidly secured.

Another object of my invention is to provide aderrick having a central frame which provides a pocket for receiving the rotary machine.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a derrick base having a perimetricframe, a central frame adapted to supporta rotary machine, and an inner structure for connecting the two frames together.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for rigidifying the central frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a derrick base of the character mentioned in which the frames are connected together by compression braces. It is also an obj ect of the invention to provide a derrick base of this character in which the frames are connected together by tension braces.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a derrick of the characterspecified in which the frames are connected together by compression braces and tension braces which are arranged in pairs.

It is still further object of the invention to provide a base for a derrick including compression braces which extend diagonally inward from the corners thereof and which are composed of short sections which are in alignment and which are secured to the members of the derrick at the opposite ends of the sections.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a derrick base having the details of construction which will be pointed out in the following description. Additional objects which reside in the details of construction will be definitely pointed out in the description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which my invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a plan view.-

Fig. 2 is an elevational view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken in the area indicated by the circle B in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by the arrow 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken in the area indicated by the circle C in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken in the area indicated by the circle D of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view taken as indicated by the arrow 7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the base construction of my invention is supported on a suitable foundation such as cement blocks 11 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The

numeral 12 represents an outer frame or perimetric-frame which includes side members in the form of channels 13. As shown best in Figs. 6 and 7, the channels 13 are arranged with their bottom walls in a vertical position and their anges or edge walls extend horizontally inward. The ends of the channels 13 are secured by bolts 14 to an attachment plate 15. The attachment plate 15 has a horizontal flange 16 which rests on a plate 17 of each block 11, and the plate 15 is secured in place by a bolt means 19 which extends through the flange 16. The pla-te 15 is secured by bolts 2O to a leg 21 of the derricl. The perimetric` frame therefore includes the channels 13, the plates 15, and the lower part of the legs 21 of the derrick. It will of course be understood that the details of construction and the cornersof the perimetric-frame 12 may be modified without departing from the invention.

As will be noted in Fig. 1, the perimetricframe 12 is substantially square. For bracing the perimetric-frame 12 I provide an inner structure 23 which may be in various designs according to the requirements for the derrick. The purpose of the inner structure 23 is to assist in bracing the perimetricframe 12 and also to support the apparatus which is supported on the floor of the derrick.

In the form of the invention shown, the inner stru.' ture 23 has long cross-members 24 which are channel-shaped and are secured on their opposite ends to the channels 13 by any suitable means such as angle-clips. The

' channel-members and are secured to the other parts 0f the derrick according to standard practice as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The exact details of design of the inner structure 23 are not important to the invention and may be of any vdesign which is capable of performing the function of supportingl the apparatus which is ordinarily carried on the floor of a derrick.

The central part of the base is provided with a central frame 27. The central frame 27 consists of side members in the form of channels 28 and reinforcing members in the form of angles 29. The angles 29 extend at right angles tothe channels 28 and parallel to the cross-members 24. As shown in Fig. 4, the reinforcing members 29 have upper horizontal legs 30 which are in horizontal planes substantially lower than the horizontal planes in which the upper legs of the channels 13 and the cross-members 24 extend. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the cross-members 24 to which the reinforcing members 29 are secured, and which are more definitely indicated by the numeral 32, are cut away at their central parts as indicated by the numeral 33 so that the upper edges thereof which ex- `tend between the channels 28 are in the same plane as the upper legs 30 of the reinforcing members 29.

Secured to the members 24 are angles 34 having legs 35 which extend at right angles to the members 32 and the reinforcing members 29 and parallel to the channels 28. The angles 34 are arranged above the legs 30 of the reinforcing members 29 and serve as side plates which centralize the rotary machine which is adapted to rest in the pocket provided bythe central frame 27.

For the purpose of rigidifying the base, my invention provides diagonal compression braces 40 and diagonal tension braces 41. These braces 40 and 41 extend diagonally inward from the corners of the perimetricframe 12, and in the preferred form of the invention they are connected to the central frame 27 and rigidify it.

The compression braces consist of sections 43 which are formed of channels as illustrated.' The compression braces are connccted at their ends to the various parts of the base as will now be described.

Referring first to Fig. 6, the outer end of an outer section 43 is connected by an attachment plate or bracket to a vertical web or bottom of one of the channels -13 and one of the plates 15. Bolts 44 are pro-vided for causing this attachment. As shown in Fig. 5, the inner end of this section and ends of other sections are secured to the inner structure 23.

In Fig. 5, brackets 45 having legs arranged on obtuse angles and brackets 46 having legs arranged on acute angles are secured to adjacent ends of sections 43 by rivets 47. Legs 48 of these brackets 45 and '46 engage opposite sides of the vertical web of the crossmember 24 of the inner structure 23, and a bolt 49 is extended therethrough for attaching these parts together. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the inner end of the inner section 43 is connected to the central frame by a bracket 50, the legs of which are formed on an obtuse angle, one leg of which is secured to the section 43 and the other leg of which is secured to one of the cross-members 24 by the samev rivets 51 which secure the angle 34 in place.

Each of the compression braces, as Will be seen, is connected at its outer end to k the perimetric-frame, at its inner end to theA central frame, and at its intermediate portion to the inner structure of the base. In bases which do notprovide an inner frame, the inner end of each compression member may terminate at the central part or adjacent to the central part of the inner structure. The sections 43 which comprise the compression braces are in alignment and are so positioned and so secured to the various .parts of the base that they rigidity the dii'erent parts against compression vforces. The result or eect of the four compression braces 43 on the central frame is to' prevent the central frame from moving horizontally in any direction. The same is true with respect to the inner structure V23 and with respect to the perimetric frame 12.

The tension braces 41 of my invention are in the form of rods 54 which are connected at their outer ends to the perimetric-frame and at their inner ends to the central frame. shown best in Figs. 6 and 7, the outer end of each rod 54 extends through a boss 55 of aplate 15. This boss 55 may be integral with the plate, or separate, as desired. The outer end of each rod 54 is provided with threads 56 and a nut 57 is screwed to the outer end thereof outside the boss 55. As shown in Fig; 5, the members of the inner structuretension braces 41 extend parallel` and adj'acent to the compression braces 40. After 'the parts have been assembled as shown, the outer nut 57 on each compression brace is rotated so that the outer ends of the rods 54 are pulled outward and are placedunder a sutiici'ent tension to hold the compression braces 40 under a tension. Experience has AsA demonstrated that vsuch a combination provides an extremely rigid base construction.

My invention not only resides in the co1nbination of compression braces and tension braces in a derrick base, but it resides in a derrick base having either tension braces or compression braces, or a Vcombination of the two. My invention consists of a derrick base having this base construction with or without the central t`rame'27.l

I believe my invention to be broadly new in its entirety, and furthermore I believe that various combinations of the base less than the entirety are new, and I therefore desire the invention to be interpreted in the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A base construction for derricks comprising: a perimetric-frame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-frame, extended parallel to two vsides of said frame;

traversing-members extending at right an gles to sald cross-members, sald cross-members and said traversing-members forming'an inner structure; and compression braces extending diagonally inward fronr the corners of said perimetric-frame, said compression braces being secured'to said perimetric-rame and to said inner structure.

2. A base constructionpfor derricks comprising: a perimetric-frame including ironsv secured togetherto form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-frame, extended parallel to two sidesof said frame; traversing-members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-members and said .traversing-members forming an inner structure; and compression braces extending diagonally inward from the corners of saidperimetric-frame, said compression braces being secured to said perimetricframe and to said inner structure, said compression braces consisting of sections in alignment and secured at their opposite ends either to said perimetric-rame or to said inner structure. l

4. A base construction for derricks comprising: a perimetric-rame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to 'said perimetric-frame, extended parallel to two sides of said frame;

ioo

traversing-members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-members and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; a central frame within said perimetric-frame, said central frame being connected to said inner structure; and compression braces extending diagonally inward from the corners of said perimetric'-frame to said central frame.

5. A base construction for derriclzs comprising: a perimetric-frameincluding irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-trame, extended parallel to two sides of said frame; traversing-members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-members and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; a central Jframe within said perimetric-rame, said central frame being connected to said inner structure; and compression braces extending diagonally inward from the corners of said pcrinietricram'e to said central frame,` said compression braces consisting ot' sections in alignment, the outer section being secured to said perimetric-rame and said inner structure, the intermediate section being connected to said inner structure, and the inner section being connected to said inner structure and said cent-ral frame.

6. A base construction for derricks com prising: a perimetriceframe including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-:trame7 extended parallel to two sides of said frame; traversing-members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-memers and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; and tension braces extending diagonally inward rom the corners of said perimetric-rame. said tension braces being placed under a tension.

7. A base construction for derrieks comprising: a perimetric-rame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-frame, extended parallel to two sides of said frame; traversing-members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-members and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; and four extension braces extending diagonally inward from the four corners of said perimetrale-frame, said tension braces being placed under a tension.

8. A base construction for derricks comprising: a perimetric-frame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-:t'rame, extended parallel to two sides of said frame; traversing-members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-members and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; a central frame within said perimetric-rame, said central frame being connected to said inner structure; and ten'- perimetric-frame, said central frame being connected to said inner structure; and tension braces extending diagonally inward from corners of said perimetric-frame to said central frame, said tension members being placed under a tension.

10. base construction for derrieks comprising: a perimetric-frame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-frame, eX- tended parallel to two sides of said frame; traversing members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-members and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; a central frame within said perimetric frame, said central frame being connected to said inner structure; tension braces extending from said perimetrietraine to said central frame, said tension members being placed under a tension; and compression braces arranged adjacent to said tension braces and extended fromsaid p@- rimetric-frame to said central frame.

1l. A base construction for derricks comprising: a perimetric-rame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-frame, extended parallel to two sides of said frame; traversing members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said crossmembers and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; a central frame within said perimetricframe, said central frame being connected to said inner structure; tension braces extending diagonally inward from corners of said perimetric-frame to said central frame, said tension members being placed under a tension; and compression bracesarranged adjacent to said tension braces and extended diagonally inward from 'the corners of said perimetric-frame to said central frame. Y

12. A base construction for derricks comprising: a perimetric-frame including irons secured together tofform a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-frame,

extended parallel to two sides of said frame;

traversing-1nembers extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-members and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; compression braces extending diagonally inward from the corners of said perimetric-frame, said compression braces being secured to said perimetric-frame and to said inner structure; and tension braces extending adjacent to said compression braces; said tension braces being under tension.

18. A base construction for derricks comprising: a perimetric-frame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-frame, extended parallel to two sides of said frame; traversing-members extending at right angles to said cross-members, saidcross-Inembers and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; four compression braces extending diagonally inward from the corners of said perimetric-frame, said compression braces being secured to said perimetricframe and to said inner structure; and four tension braces extending adjacent to said compression braces, said four tension braces being under tension.

14;. A base construction for derricks 'comprising; a perimetric-frame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; crossmembers secured to said perimetric-frame, extended parallel to two sides ofsaid frame; traversing-members extending at right angles to said cross-members, said cross-members and said traversing-members forming an inner structure; compressing braces extending diagonally inward from the corners of said erimetric-frame, said compression braces eing secured to said perimetric-frame and to said inner structure, said compression braces consisting of sections in alignment and secured at their opposite ends either to said perimetric-frame or to said inner structure;

and four tension braces extending adjacent to said compression bracesysaid four tension braces being under tension.

15. A base construction for derricks comprising a perimetric frame including irons secured together to form a rectangle; a central frame placed within said perimetric frame; an inner structure connecting said central frame and said perimetric frame together; and compression braces extending diagonally inward from the corners of said prerimetric frame and secured to said central ame.

16. A base construction for derricks comframe and secured to saidvce'ntral frame, said tension braces being placed under a tension.

A base construction for derricks Vcomprising: a perimetric frame including irons central frame and said perimetric frame t0- gether; compression braces extending inward from said perimetric frame and secured to said central frame; and tension braces extending adjacent to said compression braces,

said tension braces being secured to said perisecured together to form a rectangle; a central frame placed Within said perimetric frame; an inner' structure connecting said 

